In several passages throughout the New Testament, we find seriouswarnings about impending apostasy...

* Jesus warned that false prophets would arise, the love of many would grow cold, and only those who endure to the end would be saved - Matthew 24:11-13

* Paul foretold of many disciples being drawn away - Acts 20:29-30

* Peter warned about the rise of false teachers, and how many would follow their destructive ways - 2Peter 2:1-3

By the time the epistles of John and Jude were written, the danger wasno longer pending, it was very much in existence...

• Antichrists were present, and false prophets were in the world - 1John 2:18; 4:1; 2John 1:7

• Jude was forced to change his original purpose to deal with the crisis - Jud_1:3-4If the danger of apostasy was already present in the 1st century A.D.,we should not be surprised that the danger exists in the 21st century.We would do well to pay close heed to those epistles written to tell ushow to deal with apostasy, and that makes The Epistle Of Jude especiallyrelevant.

AUTHORJude, as stated in the salutation (Jude 1:1). That he does notidentify himself as an apostle, and appears to distinguish himself fromthe apostles (Jude 1:17), suggests he was not the apostle Jude (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). His self-identification as "the brother of James" leadsmany to believe the author to be Judas, brother of James and also of theLord Jesus (cf. Matthew 13:55). Like James, Jude chose not to accentuate hisphysical relation to Jesus, but his spiritual one ("a bondservant ofJesus Christ," cf. Jude 1:1; James 1:1).

﻿RECIPIENTS﻿The letter is addressed "to those who are called" (Jude 1:1) without anyspecific designation as to who they were or where they lived. Thereferences to Old Testament incidents and extra-biblical sources (cf.Jude 1:5-7; Jude 1:9; Jude 1:11; Jude 1:14) strongly suggests that the original readers wereJewish Christians, perhaps living in Palestine.

DATESimilarities between the Epistle of Jude and the Second Epistle of Peterindicate one author may have influenced the other. Since Peter wrote offalse teachers who were to come (cf. 2Peter 2:1) and Jude warned of thosewho had already "crept in unnoticed" (cf. Jude 1:4), it is possible thatthat Jude wrote after Peter.

Peter’s death in during the reign of Nero (which ended in 68 A.D.)places his own epistle sometime before 67 A.D. The lack of any mentionof the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred during the fall of 70A.D.) suggests that Jude wrote before that notable event. If so, thenthe date of composition may have been between 67-70 A.D.

PURPOSE AND THEMEJude’s original purpose in penning this epistle was to write of thecommon salvation he and his readers shared (Jude 1:3). But the presenceof ungodly men and the danger of them leading Christians astray forced achange in purpose:

* To encourage his readers to contend earnestly for the faith that had been delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3)

As for the theme, Jude’s first admonition serves us well:

Contend earnestly for the faith

OUTLINEHere is a simple outline of the book...Greetings (Jude 1:1-2)1. Purpose for writing (Jude 1:3-4)2. God’s judgments in time past (Jude 1:5-7)3. Character and doom of false teachers (Jude 1:8-19)4. Exhortations to build their faith (Jude 1:20-23)Concluding doxology (Jude 1:24-25)REVIEW QUESTIONS1) Who is author of The Epistle Of Jude? (Jude 1:1) - Jude, brother of James (likely the half-brothers of Jesus, Matthew 13:55)2) Who were the recipients of this epistle? - "Those who were called", possibly Jewish Christians3) When was it written? - Most date it between 67-70 A.D.4) What has been suggested as its purpose? - To encourage his readers to contend earnestly for the faith that had been delivered to the saints5) What has been suggested as its theme? - Contend earnestly for the faith6) What are the main divisions of this epistle as outlined above? - Greetings (Jude 1:1-2) - Purpose for writing (Jude 1:3-4) - God’s judgments in time past (Jude 1:5-7) - Character and doom of false teachers (Jude 1:8-19) - Exhortations to build their faith (Jude 1:20-23) - Concluding doxology (Jude 1:24-25)